UPSC Toppers: Thane Dentist, MBBS Graduate from Grant Medical College Clear Civil Service Exam

Thane: This year two medical professionals from Maharashtra have cleared one of the toughest Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam. While one of them is a dentist hailing from Thane, an MBBS graduate from Grant Medical College has also cleared the test.

Thane-based dentist Dr. Kashmira Sankhe has made the State proud as she has achieved the countrywide rank of 25 in the examination, while Dr. Sumedh Jadhao has bagged an all-India rank of 687.

For Dr. Sankhe, who resides at Wagle Estate, this was her third attempt at her exam and she has credited her success to her parents and mentors who provided her with constant encouragement to join Civil Service.

After completing her BDS degree in dental surgery from Government Dental College, Mumbai, Dr. Sankhe used to practice at a clinic. She started preparing for UPSC in 2019. "I used to work at a clinic and as the exam neared, I rescheduled my time at work to focus on studies," she told TOI.

She has preferred to join Indian Administrative Services (IAS) as she opined that it would provide her with the opportunity of pursuing her goals to work for society and bring about some reforms.

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“Because of the bigger platform that IAS offers, I was always more inclined toward it though my second preference was IFS due to my interest in foreign languages,” Dr. Sankhe told Indian Express.

"This is my third attempt. I had started preparing for this exam in late 2019 but couldn't clear it. I finally managed to sail past this time. I had no expectations but there was always a glimmer of hope. Initially, I couldn't believe it when the results were announced. It took some time for it to sink in that I was ranked 25th in the country and had topped from the state too," she told the Times of India.

"Our spiritual guru would say one should join civil services which can equip you to serve society. So from a young age, I aspired to join civil services. My mother kept sharing information about prominent IAS and IPS personalities while my father till date addresses me as an IAS officer to keep me motivated," Dr. Sankhe added with a grin.

Sharing her strategy of time management and study, she told Indian Express, I would study for 50 minutes and then take a break for 10 minutes. During the break, I would go for a short walk, listen to music. The idea was to get refreshed and better focus.”

She also informed the Daily that she took coaching classes only for Anthropology subjects while she was in Delhi to prepare for the exam. “Soon after I went to Delhi Covid-19 outbreak happened and I returned home as soon as train services resumed,” she added.

While preparing for the exam, Dr. Sankhe relied heavily on newspapers for current affairs and she opined that the candidates should not get diverted studying other topics and only stick to the curriculum by UPSC, which is comprehensive.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of the State, Eknath Shinde has also congratulated her and wished other meritorious students a prosperous career.

Dr. Sankhe is not the only medical professional to clear the UPSC examination this year. Dr. Sumedh Jadhao obtained an all-India rank of 687 in the examination. He completed his MBBS from Grant Medical College and having his life's goal to provide service, he decided to pursue UPSC. At present, he works as a health officer in the government sub-district hospital in Pusad taluka of Yavatmal district.

He bagged a rank after two attempts and he wishes to make a change in the public health sector, education, and infrastructure. Speaking to TOI, Dr. Jadhao told the daily, "This will give me a larger platform to do work in many sectors and it is a larger opportunity than what a doctor can do at a policy level. It was my childhood dream and my mother's desire that I become a civil servant."

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